Safety razor



Nov. 12, 1935.. J. D. GARRETsoN SAFETY RAZOR Original Filed May 2, 1935IN V EN TOR.

Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT o'FFlcE Application May 2,1933, Serial No. 668,942 Renewed June 25, 1934 11 Claims. (Cl. 30-61)This invention relates to a safety razor consisting of a guard member,and a blade backing mem'- ber, and a thin iiexible blade to be clampedbetween the guard and backing members to retain the cutting edges of theblade in relation to openv ings in the opposite edges of the guard, theblade backing member being hinged to assume a folded position at timesto permit the installation or removal of the blade.

l0 An object of the invention is to provide a safety razor on-which theblade may be conveniently mounted and relative to which the blade can beeither installed or removed without the necessity of taking apart thesafety razor, and the subsequent liability of loss of parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety razor of thetype mentioned, which permits of quick mounting and dismounting of theblade, and wherein the blade backing member is foldable to pass throughan elongated slot in the blade, said blade being of the slotted type forcooperation with a safety razor of the character specied, the assemblybeing superior in point of simplicity, inexpensiveness of construction,positiveness of operation, and facility and convenience in use andgeneral eiciency.

In this specification and the annexed drawing, the invention isillustrated in the form considered to be the best, but it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to such form, because itmay be embodied in other forms; and it is also to be understood that inand by the claims following the description, it is desired to cover theinvention in whatsoever form it may be embodied.

In "the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a vertical cross section through a razor constructedin accordance with my invention, and showing the blade backing member inelevated position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section similar to Fig. 1 but showing theblade and blade backing memberin position on the guard in readiness fora shaving operation.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken through Fig. 2

on the line 3-3.

Fig. 4 is a plan elevation of the razor in readiness for shavingoperation.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the razor blade.

J0 In the drawing the numeral I indicates a guard member provided with aslot 2 along each of its opposite longitudinal edges. The upper centersurface ofthe guard I is flattened as at 3, and the sides of the guardadjacent the flattened portion, are curved downwardly and outwardly asat 4 at a proper angle for contacting the razor with the face during theshaving operation.

On each of the upper ends of the guard, on the longitudinal centerthereof, are provided the blade positioning studs 5, the opposite uppersur- 5 faces of each stud 5 being curved or beveled for the purpose ofgiving a cam action, as will be hereinafter brought out. The studs 5 aresubstantially rectangular in cross section.

The guard member is mounted on a hollow 1o handle I, which is secured tothe` center of the guard on the underside thereof. A spindle 1 isslidably confined in the tubular handle 6. The lower end of the handle 6is shouldered and threaded to receive a head 8, said head being ro- 15tatable around the lower end of the handle 6. The lower end of thespindle 1 throughout a portion of the length thereof, is provided with athreaded portion 9 with which a pin I0 on the rotatable head engages,whereby rotation of the 20 head 8 and the pin I0 thru the engagementthereof with the threaded portion on the spindle 'I, will cause saidspindle to move axially in the handle 6.

The upper end of the spindle 1 is provided with 25 a reduced extensionI2 of rectangular cross section, the difference in cross section of thespindle 'I and the extension I2, providing a pair of shoulders I3. Theextension I2 on the spindle 'I extends thru an opening I4 in the centerof the 30 guard member I. The upper end of the extension I2 is providedwith a head I5 thereon, within which a laterally extended shaft I6 isconfined. A blade backing memberconsisting of a pair of like halves I1',is swingably mounted on opposite 35 ends of the shaft I6, whereby theblade backing member may be placed in the collapsed position shown inFig. 1, or swung into extended position shown in Fig. 2. The oppositelongitudinal edges I8 of the blade backing member form surfaces to 40engage opposite sides of the blade adjacent the cutting edges thereof.Opposite .ends of the blade backing members I1 are recessed to receiveand accommodate the blade positioning studs 5.

The underside of each of the halves of the blade 45 backing member isprovided with a bearing I9 thereon, each bearing having a pin 20 connedtherein. A bar 2I has its upper yend journaled on or pivotally connectedto each of the pins 20 on opposite sides of the extension' I2. Each bar2| 50 extends or depends through the opening I4 in the guard member, andthe lower end of each bar 2I is bent at right angles to form anoutstanding handle I. 'Ihe flanges 22 are adapted to rest on top of theshoulders or stops i8 provided on the spindle 1. Y

Whentheheadlonthehandleisrotated from the position shown in Fig. 2, thespindle 1 is advanced axially in the handle to raise the blade backingmember from the extended position shown in Fig. 2 into the collapsed andelevated position shown in Fig. 1. The blade backing member is held inthe extended position showninliig.2byturningtheheadlonthehan die toexert a downward pull on the center portion of the opposite halves ofthe blade backing member, which prevents said blade backing member frombuckling. When the blade backing member is in the elevated positionshown in Fig. 1, the shoulders I3 on the spindle 1, force the oppositeflanges on the bars connected to the halves of the blade backing memberinto engagemmt with the under surface of the guard member and thusprevent the opposite halves of the blade backing member from swinging toone side or the other. If the opposite halves of the blade backingmember were merely hinged to the extension on the spindle, then saidhalves would be free to swing in either direction. By providing the barsin pivotal connection with each of the opposite halves of the bladebacking member on the under side thereof, said halves of the bladebacking member are positively prevented from swinging when the saidblade backing member is in elevated position.

Whenever the blade backing member is lowered from the elevated positionshown in Fig. 1 into the position shown in Fig. 2, the upper surfaces ofthe stops 5 act to swing the edges of the opposite halves of the bladebacking member into the extended position. The length of the spindleextension l2as well as the length of the bars 2|, is such as to permitthe blade backing member to be moved away from the guard I and tosubstantially clear the blade backing member from the studs I.

The blade 2i to be mounted upon the razor above described, is of thethin, flexible type, having the cutting edges on each of the oppositelonger sides thereof, and is provided with a central longitudinalaperture 26 which is in the form of a central longitudinal slot. 'I'helength of the slot is greater than the distance between the outer endsof the opposite studs 5 on the guard I and is greater than the length ofthe'backing member, whereby when the blade is dropped over the backingmember in the collapsed position shown in Fig. 1, and onto the studs 5,the blade cannot move lengthwise in either direction.

The slot is provided with enlargements 21 at each of its opposite mds,which enlargements are adapted to engage the studs 5 and preventsidewise movement of the blade 25. The width of the slot 20 is slightlygreater than the overall thickness of the opposite halves of the bladebacking member when in the folded or collapsed position shown in Fig. 1,whereby the said blade will pass freely over the collapsed halves wheneither placing the blade on or removing it lfrom the razor. The contourof the slot 28 and its enlargements 21 correspond to the outline orboundary of the backing member when in the collapsed position, and ofthe positioning studs.

Ifthebladeistobeplacedontheraaor, the razor elements are nrst broughtinto the position shown in Fig. 1. The opposite ends of the blade aregrasped between the fingers and the centralopeningllofthebladeisiirstpasseddownover shown in Fig. 2 and clamps theopposite cutting 1o edges of the blade in shaving position along theopposite sides of theguard member.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A safety razor, comprising a guard mem- 15 ber provided with bladepositioning studs on one side thereof and a tubular-'handle on the otherside; a blade backing member hinged on its longitudinal center line toform complementary halves; a stem to move axially in said han- 2o dieand having the upper end thereof pivotally connected to the oppositehalves of the backing member, wherebyv said backing member is movablefrom an extended position in contact with the guard into a collapsedposition above the 25.

guard, and'vice versa cam members on the blade positioning studs to movethe opposite halves of the blade backing member from the collapsed andinto the extended position when the blade backing member is moved towardthe guard; a 30 blade to be clamped between the guard and blade backingmember and having a central longitudinal slot fitting over the bladepositioning studs and being of a length and width exceeding that of theblade backing member when in the collapsed position; and coacting meanson the stem and handle for relatively moving said blade backing memberinto and from blade clamping position on the guard.

2. A safety razor, comprising a guard member provided with bladepositioning studs on one side thereof and a tubular. handle on the otherside; a blade backing member hinged on its longitudinal center line toform complementary halves; a stem to move axially in said handle andhaving the upper end thereof pivotally connected to the opposite halvesof the backing member, whereby said backing member is movable from anextendedposition in contact with the guard into a collapsed positionabove the guard,

and vice versa; means pivotally connected to each of the opposite halvesof the blade backing member to hold said halves in collapsed positionwhen the blade backing member is elevated above the guard; cam memberson the blade 5;,

positioning studs to move the opposite halves of the blade backingmember from the collapsed and into the extended position when the bladebacking member is moved toward the guard; a

blade to be clamped between the guard and blade 00 backing member andhaving a central longitudinal slot iltting overthe blade positioningstuds and being of a length and width exceeding that of the bladebacking member when in the collapsed position; and coacting means on thestem and handle for relatively moving said blade backing member into andfrom blade clamping position on the guard.

3. A safety razor, comprisinga guard memblade backing member consistingof complementary halves hingedly connected along one side thereof; meansslidable at right angles to said guard member, the halves of said bladebacking ber provided with blade positioning studs; a 70 member beinghingedly mounted on said slldu lapsed position on opposite sides of theslidable means'when in theraised position; cam'means on the bladevpositioning studs for swinging the j opposite halves of the bladebacking member into extended position as the same is moved toward theguard; a blade adapted to be clamped between Y said guard and bladebacking member having a central longitudinal slot, the ends ofwhich ltsaid blade positioning studs and being of a length exceeding" that ofsaid bladel backing member, the width of said slot exceeding the Widthof the halves of the blade backing member when in the folded position,said slot permitting the blade to be moved over the folded halves of theblade backing member and said slidable means when .the latter is raisedaway from the guard; and .means for relatively moving the said bladebacking member into clamping `position with the guard.

4. A safety razor, comprising a guard member providedv with bladepositioning studs; a blade backing member consisting of complementaryhalves hingedly connected along one side thereof; means slidable atright angles to said guard member, the halves of said blade backingmember being hingedly mounted on said slidable means to cause each ofthe longitudinal edges thereof to substantially coincide with thelongitudinal edges of said guard member when in the extended positionand to fold intoa collapsed position on opposite sides of the slidablemeans when in the raised position; means pivotally connected to each ofthe opposite halves of the blade backing member to hold the oppositehalves in non-swinging folded position on opposite sides of the slidablemember when the blade backing member is in the raised position; means onthe blade positioning studs for swinging the opposite halves of theblade backing member into extended position as the same is moved towardthe guard; a blade adapted to bev clamped between said guard and bladebacking member having a central longitudinal slot, the ends of which fitsaid blade positioning studs and being of a length exceeding that ofsaid blade backing member, the width of said slot exceeding the width ofthe halves of the blade backing member when in the folded position, laidslot permitting the blade to be moved over the folded halves of theblade backing member and said slidable means when the latter is raisedaway from'the guard; and means for relatively moving the said bladebacking member into clamping position with the guard.

5. A safety razor, including a guard member; a blade; and a cap toengage the blade with the guard member, said cap being divided on itscentral longitudinal axis into two halves hingedly connected, wherebythe cap may be elevated relative to the blade and the two halves of thecap will fold down into a position at right angles to the plane of theguard.

6. A safety razor, including a guard member; a blade; and a cap toengage the blade with the guard member, said cap being divided on itscentral longitudinal axis into two halves hlngedly connected, wherebythe cap may be elevated re1- ative to the blade and the two halves ofthe cap will fold down into a position at right angles to the plane ofthe guard; and means to hold the two halves of the cap in a non-swingingposition when the cap is in the folded elevated position.

7. A safety razor comprising a guard member provided withbladepositioning studs on one side thereof and a tubular handle on theother side; a blade backing member consisting of connected foldablecomplementary halves; means slidable at right angles to said guardmember, the halves of said blade backing member being mounted on saidslidable means whereby each of. the longitudinal edges thereof when inextended position lie parallel with the longitudinal edges of said guardmember, and when in the raised position said halves fold up againstopposite sides of said slidable means substantially at right angles tothe plane of the guard member; means connected to each of the oppositehalves of the blade backing member tohold the said opposite halves innon-swinging folded position on opposite sides of the slidable meanswhen the blade backing member is in the raised position; means on theblade positioning studs for swinging the opposite halves of the bladebacking member into extended position as the same is moved toward theguard; a blade adapted to' be clamped between said guard member andblade backing member having a central slot fitting over said positioningstuds and being of a length and width exceeding that of the bladebacking member when in the folded position, said slot permitting theblade to be moved over the folded halves of the said blade backingmember and said slidable means when raised away from the guard; andco-acting means on the handle and slidable means for relatively movingsaid blade backing member into and from blade clamping position on theguard member.

8. A safety razor comprising a cap member, a blade and a guard member;said guard member having studs upon one side thereof for positioning theblade and cap and for extending the cap member into clamping positionupon the guard member; a tubular handle on said guard member; meansslidably mounted in said handle upon the outer end of vwhich is mountedthe cap member; said cap member being centrally divided into halvesfoldable upon opposite sides of the slidable means; means to hold thecap member in a non-swinging position at an angle to the guard memberfor blade placement; co-acting means on the handle and slidable meansfor raising and lowering the cap member from and into clamping positionupon the guard member; a blade adapted to be clamped and flexed betweenthe cap member and the guard member and having a central slot fittingover the blade positioning studs and being of a width and lengthpermitting the blade to be moved over the folded halves of the capmember and slidable means when the same are in theraised position.

9. A safety razor, including a guard member; a blade; and a cap toengage the blade with the guard member, said cap being divided on one ofits major axes into two halves; and means whereby the cap may beelevated relative to the blade so that the two halves of the cap willfold down into a position at right angles to the plane of the guard.

10. A safety razor, including a guard member; a blade; and a cap toengage the blade with the guard member, said cap being divided on one ofits major axes into two halves; means whereby the cap may be elevatedrelative to the blade so that the two halves of the cap will fold downinto a position at right angles to the plane of the m m W ,m m

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the :und member member and being e wnrclly from the center thereof 1otions and the upper surface tween seid ltuds being nat to in: area fornexing the blade liteedesofthe

